Targeting Local Search Terms
-
I normally advise clients never to optimise around keywords with very low or even zero recorded Google search volumes. However, if the core keyword has decent volumes but the organisation is serviing specific towns/cities/locations would you consider it valid to optimise for :
core keyword + focused location (even if this has zero search volumes).
The Google Places results are obviously highly relevant but depending on the core keyword you sometimes get the 3-box places at the top but sometimes in the middle of the natural results.
-
Google shows keyword volume based on their internal system's evaluation of what phrases are deemed "commercially viable". It's a severely flawed system, mostly designed to force people to spend more money on perceived higher value keyword phrases in AdWords.
As the other answers show, you are wise to include location relevant words in your optimization. Both because people are looking for these things, and because having them in the page Titles is VITAL to helping someone doing a search get the reassurance that "this search result IS for what I'm looking for in "THIS AREA". It's a trust-to-click factor.
If you want proof that people are searching for such things, go to Yelp and see if there are any results on the combination you are considering - and if there are reviews for any of those.
Of course, not ALL phrases are being searched at the local level, yet many are, even if they're not reported in Google's ulterior-motivated system.
Another consideration - here in Marin County, California, many people search for "XYZ + town", yet many more do in fact for "XYZ + bay area" or even "XYZ + San Francisco Bay Area" or "XYZ East Bay" or "XYZ North Bay"... so if there is such a regional factor in the local areas you're dealing with, consider doing research on those as well, and adding those into the mix with the more refined local wording.
-
Sometimes common sense should prevail over the KW search volume tool. I've run in to local search terms I KNOW people are searching but aren't being registered.
-
Short answer, yes. Even more so if your clients are actual brick and mortar businesses that can benefit form walk in traffic. It's important to remember that Google does a TON of scrubbing of the data it presents to the outside world. To see this for yourself, take a site you currently run--or where you have access via analytics--and pull some long tail keyword search data from over the course of a year. Find a few phrases that have brought you 10 or more visits. Plug those in to Google Keyword Tool in a different browser. Do they have any search volumes?
Dedicating an entire page to an extremely long tail phrase is likely still over kill in a lot of cases, but a quick glance at analytics will give you a solid idea of the search patterns that would help create the content of a great page.
Lastly, part of Google's scrubbing is normalization for a globalized audience. Only major cities are going to rank in that segment, but would a customer living in a smaller city or neighborhood see a benefit of doing business locally? Probably. Always a good idea to make the distance from searcher to sale as short as possible.
-
In the town where I live there is almost zero search volume reported in the Adwords Keyword Tool for "TownName Dentists".... however, there are people typing that query into google (my dentist's site gets visitors for it every month) and the lifetime value of a patient is very high.
Also, there are lots of variants.... "dentists in TownName"....etc.... and combined those variants are more significant in number.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
How can I improve my search results for local pages?
My test for this specific example is http://www.mylocalgaragerepair.com This client is trying to reach out for the local terms such as garage door repair for Temecula and other cities in riverside county. I build the following page. http://www.mylocalgaragerepair.com/temecula-garage-door-repair-temecula-garage-door-service/ What am I doing wrong? Is there some plugin's or other type things that would help my rank locally? If you solve this you've solved one of the main problems I'm having with my business. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Image & Video Optimization | | Smallbusinessdoctor0 -
How to add local
When you have reviews of local stores, how can you upload them to Google+ Local (former Google Places) so they will show up on stores/compagnies Google+ Local page? Like this one for example: https://plus.google.com/116525083278574120722/about?hl=nl. It says 'Revies from internet: schilder-adres.nl'. So schilder-adres.nl somehow imported there reviews to Google+ Local. How can you add your local reviews?
Image & Video Optimization | | Men4Media0 -
Local Listings
I use getlisted.org as my local listing guideline. For some of the local listings you can "upgrade" the listing for a price instead of doing just the basic free listing. I was wondering do people pay for the listing and is it worth it? Are some of them better than others to get an upgraded listing? Thanks for the help!
Image & Video Optimization | | ClickIt0 -
Practice Name vs. Dr. Name in Local Search
I wanted to get some opinions on an interesting situation for local search. Many doctors and dentists are found in one of two ways online: Their name and title, e.g. Dr. James A. Smith, MD Their practice name, e.g Smith Plastic Surgery, P.C Often sites like Healthgrades are providing data on the doctor him or herself, and the information can be tough to switch out. At the same time, there's a tendancy on the Dr's part to want to be listed as their practice name. Their site is often set up that way. How are you handling this kind of setup? Have you found a way to reliably associate (and format) a practice and doctor's name in a listing, in such a way that doesn't violate Google's quality guidelines? I know the drill for handling a doctor within a hospital, but this is a slightly different situation...
Image & Video Optimization | | BedeFahey0 -
Proximity for local intent searches
Based in the UK, I can see clear differences in search results for terms that Google considers have local intent, based on location. I'm interested in the community's experience of how far in distance local intent reaches. Does it depend on the search?, e.g. If I search for restaurant will it have a different local intent radius to a coffee shop etc.
Image & Video Optimization | | bjalc20110 -
Local SEO Issue: Google Places Listing on Page 8
Hello, I'm having an issue with a client's Google Places listing. It's showing on page 8 for one of the main keyword terms but their main site is on page 1. Having looked into competitors' places listings ranking above, I've ruled out the following; lack of citations inconsistent citations incomplete profile incorrect category listing details not matching places landing page incorrect location and any form of keyword stuffing Other places listings ranking above have fewer citations, incomplete profiles, details inconsistent with their main site, one is no longer trading as a business and one has no website! In the past, our client had had two listings simultaneously but we addressed this waaaay back. Is it possible we could still be getting punished? I'm at a bit of a loss otherwise. Any thoughts would be hugely appreciated. Thankyou!
Image & Video Optimization | | jasarrow0 -
Local seo, business in multiple cities?
Hello Everyone, What is the best strategy when it comes to optimizing a website that services more than one city. So, say I'm in computer fixing business and I have offices in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Miami & Dallas. (took me a while to come up with some US cities) - how should I structure my website so that I look relevant for every city? Is it possible to display specific information for users coming from specific cities, say someone browsing from San Francisco will see my main page optimized for San Francisco (containing a real address, phone number all the necessary stuff). I'd really appreciate your thoughts on this. Thank you in advance, Alex
Image & Video Optimization | | pwpaneuro0 -
Getting indexed into Google video search
I have a website that has videos hosted from youtube.com embedded onto it. I created and uploaded the videos to youtube and want them on my website. My question is which would be a better option, hosting the video on my website or embed them from youtube? I currently have them embedded onto youtube but when I do a Google video search I cannot find my company's website anywhere. My videos are shown on the results but they are linked to youtube and not my website. Is there a way to get the search results to show listing of the videos posted on my website?
Image & Video Optimization | | Shawn1240